power inverter keeps shutting off

microwave from walmart. invertor should be good. common brand sold.

microwave probably needs 1500 or 1600 watts to initial j ump start that 700 watts. but that invertor has a 3000 watt surge capability.

 

Low voltage is when you run your batteries down or use too small cables like the first problem. It'll kick to keep you from having a dead vehicle and/or not enough juice to invert. It's similar to the trucks low voltage shutdown.

It also has a high voltage shutdown just in case the regulator on the alternator malfunctions and starts shooting out like 16V. Not good for the inverter so it shuts down. Your truck has that protection too.

Then it has thermal overload protection is like what you have right now. It's like a circuit break in the truck. It gets hot from the overload of current and kicks. When it cools down it resets itself.

I'm taking you used the right size wire? The wire should be the same size as the mount hole on the inverter. If it's smaller you have the wrong size. If that's okay then either the thermal switch in the inverter is defective or the microwave has problems creating an excess wattage demand. I see your model has a voltage display. See what it reads right before it kicks. If it doesn't go above 150 (x100) when it kicks then I'd say the inverter is bad.

I looked at the specs that microwave has 1050W input which should be in the range of the inverter which should handle 1500W continuously. It can handle very short, up to 3 second surges to start motors like a circular saw.
That microwave also has poor reviews on Walmart. 1 out of 5 stars. Many complaints it doesn't last long or didn't work out of the box. So there's a good chance it might be your culprit. It has a high voltage start capacitor in it that could be defective.

I have the little GE 700 watt microwave. That thing has fell a few times and been through all kinds of abuse on the road. Seven years later it still works good. I still use it in the garage.

Is there any way you can post a picture of the back of the inverter and one of the batteries so we can inspect your install? Then we can rule that out.

 

might just try a different, better microwave. for kicks and giggles. one with better reveiws.

if it don't work. walmart still does refunds.

possible it got damaged moving from one truck to another.

 

I'm a believer in them reviews.

I bought a new power cord for my phone from the Cell Phone Shop 4 weeks ago and still haven't gotten it. After the fact I researched them and found over 5000 complaints how crooked they are. If only I read the reviews.

 

Someone else mention cable size. #4 with a 1500 watt inverter is good up to 12 feet without suffering a serious voltage drop. But under 6 feet is preferred for a minimal voltage drop. With your rear batteries you do what you have to do. The unit has to be protected from the environment.


Those cable connectors are a little different but they look good. I see you have a little white marker on one cable. Are you positive your polarities are correct? If you have one or can get your hands on a volt meter that says "True RMS" on the front you could measure the output voltage of the unit. A regular volt meter will read lower. It would tell you if it's not up to par. If you can get your hands on a drill, saw, router or something like that, see if they work without kicking the unit. They need about 1200 watts.

Is that solid wire? Solid wire doesn't hold up well to repeated vibrations and will break in the future. Always use strand wire on a vehicle for flexibility.

Some tidbits...

I'm starting to lean towards eBay.